"Each disc is a separate Gulliver's voyage to somewhere marvellous...A band of young giants” ★★★★ Brian Morton - Jazz Journal 
The Hidden Notes
2017-09-26T20:34:51+01:00
"Each disc is a separate Gulliver's voyage to somewhere marvellous...A band of young giants” ★★★★ Brian Morton - Jazz Journal 

“Instead of the noisy squawks and atonal meditations of free jazz, Martin’s interest in the horn’s extended techniques lies in a more quietly lyrical and painterly expression of his themes...a charmingly expressive alternative to some of the more in-yer-face enterprises in current UK jazz.” ★★★★ Selwyn Harris – Jazzwise, August 2016

The Hidden Notes
2016-10-02T14:24:19+01:00
“Instead of the noisy squawks and atonal meditations of free jazz, Martin’s interest in the horn’s extended techniques lies in a more quietly lyrical and painterly expression of his themes...a charmingly expressive alternative to some of the more in-yer-face enterprises in current UK jazz.” ★★★★ Selwyn Harris – Jazzwise, August 2016

"John Martin has succeeded in integrating multiphonics and the overtone series on his saxophone into 10 beautiful compositions. He's found his own way to do this, and the result is beautiful and compelling. He's certainly found the "notes between the notes”!” Bob Mintzer 

The Hidden Notes
2016-05-16T23:22:11+01:00
"John Martin has succeeded in integrating multiphonics and the overtone series on his saxophone into 10 beautiful compositions. He's found his own way to do this, and the result is beautiful and compelling. He's certainly found the "notes between the notes”!” Bob Mintzer 

“Few new releases come with quite such a specific technical claim as this double release from British saxophonist John Martin…Martin’s originality is explorative rather than explosive…a technique of infinite subtlety and a restless sensitivity that ruffles and wrestles with existing modes of expression…The understated brilliance of the multiphonics is Martin’s defining feature” ★★★★ Matthew Wrighter – The Arts Desk 

The Hidden Notes
2016-07-19T16:25:26+01:00
“Few new releases come with quite such a specific technical claim as this double release from British saxophonist John Martin…Martin’s originality is explorative rather than explosive…a technique of infinite subtlety and a restless sensitivity that ruffles and wrestles with existing modes of expression…The understated brilliance of the multiphonics is Martin’s defining feature” ★★★★ Matthew Wrighter – The Arts Desk 

"John Martin has thought (and realised) the unthinkable; harnessing all the multiphonic sounds that a saxophone can make, he has crafted them within the finest compositions. No small feat. These resources are hard to control, and it is a patient labour ofsome love for the instrument that he has succeeded where others have not dared tread... not just the gimmick of one squawky tune, but a controlled double album of surprises and varied emotion... A milestone for both himself and the saxophone world" Barak Schmool – Founder of the F-ire Collective


 

 
The Hidden Notes
2016-07-19T17:20:58+01:00
"John Martin has thought (and realised) the unthinkable; harnessing all the multiphonic sounds that a saxophone can make, he has crafted them within the finest compositions. No small feat. These resources are hard to control, and it is a patient labour ofsome love for the instrument that he has succeeded where others have not dared tread... not just the gimmick of one squawky tune, but a controlled double album of surprises and varied emotion... A milestone for both himself and the saxophone world" Barak Schmool – Founder of the F-ire Collective    

“Highly distinctive... I was very impressed with “Spirit Of Adventure... Martin is one of the first saxophonists to make such wide ranging use of multiphonics and overtones in the context of through composed tonal music...this is a very well balanced and well integrated group...that gives full reign to Martin’s innovative saxophone techniques” ★★★★ Ian Mann – Thejazzmann


 
The Hidden Notes
2016-07-19T16:28:31+01:00
“Highly distinctive... I was very impressed with “Spirit Of Adventure... Martin is one of the first saxophonists to make such wide ranging use of multiphonics and overtones in the context of through composed tonal music...this is a very well balanced and well integrated group...that gives full reign to Martin’s innovative saxophone techniques” ★★★★ Ian Mann – Thejazzmann  

"thoughtful and technically adventurous music…Martin builds improvisations with a fine concern for tonal subtleties, shrewdly making use of multiphonic sounds and advanced fingerings… a distinctive voice and an explorer of restless promise" John Fordham - The Guardian


 
The Hidden Notes
2016-06-10T10:36:22+01:00
"thoughtful and technically adventurous music…Martin builds improvisations with a fine concern for tonal subtleties, shrewdly making use of multiphonic sounds and advanced fingerings… a distinctive voice and an explorer of restless promise" John Fordham - The Guardian  

"You could be forgiven for thinking on occasions while listening to this band of vibraphone (Ralph Wyld), guitar (Rob Updegraff), double bass (Tim Fairhall) and drums (Tim Giles) that it was fronted by multiple saxophones. That is because John Martin, who plays tenor throughout, is a master of multiphonics" Peter Bacon - The Jazz Breakfast

The Hidden Notes
2016-06-10T10:39:35+01:00
"You could be forgiven for thinking on occasions while listening to this band of vibraphone (Ralph Wyld), guitar (Rob Updegraff), double bass (Tim Fairhall) and drums (Tim Giles) that it was fronted by multiple saxophones. That is because John Martin, who plays tenor throughout, is a master of multiphonics" Peter Bacon - The Jazz Breakfast

"The sounds that Martin finds and works with have an elegance to them that is markedly different from the sort of jarring, squawking that one might associate with overtones and multiphonics and that way in which Martin and his band build these into the pieces is stunning" Chris Baber - Jazzviews

The Hidden Notes
2016-06-10T10:23:21+01:00
"The sounds that Martin finds and works with have an elegance to them that is markedly different from the sort of jarring, squawking that one might associate with overtones and multiphonics and that way in which Martin and his band build these into the pieces is stunning" Chris Baber - Jazzviews

”John Martin has a rare ability to combine lyricism & traditional jazz language with the extended techniques used by the free improvisers… Martin’s combination of flowing melodic lines & extended techniques, over a backdrop of classic vibraphone and modern guitar has taken the music in a new & engaging direction”  John Marley – Jazz In York 


 


 
The Hidden Notes
2016-08-06T15:40:05+01:00
”John Martin has a rare ability to combine lyricism & traditional jazz language with the extended techniques used by the free improvisers… Martin’s combination of flowing melodic lines & extended techniques, over a backdrop of classic vibraphone and modern guitar has taken the music in a new & engaging direction”  John Marley – Jazz In York     

“Truly exceptional musicians who entertained a full house until we could applaud no more!.. a very memorable evening of music making at the very highest level!” Loddon Mill Arts

The Hidden Notes
2016-05-16T23:23:18+01:00
“Truly exceptional musicians who entertained a full house until we could applaud no more!.. a very memorable evening of music making at the very highest level!” Loddon Mill Arts

"John Martin’s release is full of engaging, jazz vibrancy...the tricksy time signature riffs are pleasingly memorable...shot through with Martin’s gruff, harmonic clusters and richly-phrased soloing...an expansive journey spangled with unexpected musical glints and refractions.”  Adrian Pallant – AP review

The Hidden Notes
2016-07-19T16:26:52+01:00
"John Martin’s release is full of engaging, jazz vibrancy...the tricksy time signature riffs are pleasingly memorable...shot through with Martin’s gruff, harmonic clusters and richly-phrased soloing...an expansive journey spangled with unexpected musical glints and refractions.”  Adrian Pallant – AP review

"I can recommend The Hidden Notes to any fan of ‘post-bob’ small-group jazz and any tenorist wanting to hear what is possible given sufficient practice"  Kenneth Morris - Clarinet and Saxophone Magazine

The Hidden Notes
2016-12-11T20:11:36+00:00
"I can recommend The Hidden Notes to any fan of ‘post-bob’ small-group jazz and any tenorist wanting to hear what is possible given sufficient practice"  Kenneth Morris - Clarinet and Saxophone Magazine

"a fine body of work... Martin has indeed staked out some new territory and made it his own" ★★★★ Budd Kopman - allaboutjazz 
The Hidden Notes
2017-04-27T12:08:50+01:00
"a fine body of work... Martin has indeed staked out some new territory and made it his own" ★★★★ Budd Kopman - allaboutjazz 
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The Hidden Notes

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The Hidden Notes offers a window into a unique sound world. It is a celebration of the saxophone and all the beautiful colours that are hidden just beneath the surface.

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A short documentary film about The Hidden Notes by Kevin Brown

Live at the Vortex

News

Glowing 4 star review from Brian Morton in Jazz Journal this month

“A genuinely new reed idiom… strong, thoughtful compositions that take the listener out of the ordinary run…Each disc is a separate Gulliver’s voyage to somewhere marvelous…A band of young giants” Brian Morton

Dave Gelly talks to John Martin for Jazz Journal

Dave Gelly talks to the London saxophonist who has mastered saxophone multiphonics and bent them (sic) to melodic purposes

Jazzviews best albums of 2016

http://www.jazzviews.net/albums-of-the-year-2016.html

Great 4 star album review from Jazzwise

For the past decade the London- based tenor saxophonist John Martin has trodden his own personal path, wary of fashionably hip cutting edges. His associations with ensembles of not only jazz musicians but those interested in playing Ghanaian, folk and pop music gives an extra dimension to the less US-orientated, more Euro-jazz soundworld he favours.…